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What Affects System Performance

What Affects System Performance

How well your computer functions with the CD-Writer Plus drive, particularly how fast it writes data to a CD, depends on a number of factors. Some of these factors are listed below.

■Processor (CPU). The type and speed of your processor greatly affects the speed at which your computer transfers data to and from the CD- Writer Plus drive. If the processor speed is too slow, you may have to write at 1x speed.

■RAM. Your computer must have enough memory available to handle its operating system, the CD-Writer Plus drive’s applications, and the data you are transferring to and from CDs. The system should not have to swap data to and from the hard drive.

■Your Hard Drive. The speed at which your hard drive accesses and transfers data (its access time and transfer rate) affects performance. Newer hard drives, those with a storage capacity greater than 528 MB, are fast enough to handle the CD-Writer Plus drive’s 2x write speed.

■Parallel Port Type. The type of parallel port on your computer has a major influence in determining the speed at which your CD-Writer Plus drive runs. Possible parallel port types are:

■Standard parallel port (SPP) which is sometimes called bi- directional or compatible

■Enhanced parallel port (EPP)

■Extended capabilities port (ECP)

Most PCs shipped since January 1995 contain support for the required high-speed EPP and ECP modes. Systems shipped before this date may only support SPP.

SPP mode allows the CD-Writer Plus drive to run at up to a 2x read speed and up to a 1x write speed if the other minimum system requirements are met.

EPP and ECP modes allow the CD-Writer Plus drive to run at up to a 6x read speed and a 2x write speed if the other minimum system requirements are met.

TIP: Check your computer’s specifications to see which kind of parallel port was installed. Sometimes a fast ECP/EPP port will be set up as a slow standard mode port at the factory (for example, some HP Vectra models). Check your